"Smart growth" is a term used to describe approaches to managing the growth and development of communities that aim to improve environmental, economic and social sustainability, particularly by reducing urban sprawl and dependence on the automobile for transportation. Smart growth policies are intended to integrate land-use and infrastructure planning, fiscal and taxation measures, sustainable energy and regional governance.

The effective implementation of smart growth policies can generate mutually reinforcing benefits, such as

• reduced greenhouse gas emissions

• improved air quality
• the protection of ecologically significant areas and prime agricultural lands
• reduced infrastructure costs
• increased transportation efficiencies.

Our Work

The Pembina Institute promotes smart growth policies through its involvement in community, regional and provincial policy development and planning processes. The Pembina Institute also publishes research reports on the development and implementation of smart growth policies.

Ontario Smart Growth

Beginning in 2002, the Pembina Institute identified existing urban development patterns in southern Ontario, which were dominated by low density, automobile dependent urban sprawl, as a major driver of the growth in greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario.

In February 2003, the Pembina Institute published a study outlining a provincial policy framework for urban development based on smart growth principles. The aim of the framework was to reduce urban sprawl and create more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable communities, particularly in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region.

The study focused on five key areas of provincial influence on urban development:

1. land-use planning
2. provincial infrastructure funding
3. fiscal and taxation issues
4. sustainable energy policies
5. governance structures

Since then, the Pembina Institute has developed an intensive program of research and education around smart growth and urban sustainability in Ontario. The Pembina Institute's major activities have included:

• publishing regular reports on provincial progress to implement smart growth and urban sustainability polices outlined in the Pembina Institute's February 2003 framework document

• publishing a major report in July 2005 on the local implementation of smart growth policies in Ontario, examining the cases of York Region, Waterloo Region and the City of Ottawa

• publishing of a suite of smart growth indicators for 25 Ontario municipalities (to be published in 2007)

• making detailed submissions in response to provincial government initiatives related to smart growth and urban sustainability, including the Greater Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt Growth Plan, revisions to the provincial Planning Act and Provincial Policy Statement, OMB reform, fiscal and taxation policies, and the development of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority

• delivering presentations and speeches on urban sustainability in Ontario to a wide variety of audiences

• participating as a founding member of the Ontario Smart Growth Network and the Greenbelt Alliance.

View additional Ontario Smart Growth publications.

Alberta Smart Growth

In Alberta, the Pembina Institute's Sustainable Communities Group is actively involved in addressing growth issues such as

• automobile dependent sprawl
• rising greenhouse gas emissions
• degradation of parklands, habitat and natural resources
• increasing infrastructure costs.

In Calgary specifically, our team is collaborating with other non-governmental organizations such as Sustainable Calgary and the Sierra Club to assess current development trends and engage the City in improving the sustainability of new developments. For more information, see the following publications

• Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Urban Development: Toward Smart Growth in Calgary

• "Submission to Calgary City Council Re. Southwest Regional Policy Plan"

 

We are partnering on initiatives such as imagineCalgary to develop a long-term vision for a sustainable Calgary and progress indicators for achieving this goal. Our team has worked with the Calgary Regional Partnership to establish a Vision of a Sustainable Region and a new mission statement through workshops and visioning activities.

For more information on smart growth, contact

Mark Winfield

• Director, Environmental Governance
• Email: markw(at)pembina.org
  Phone: 416-644-1016

Jesse Row

• Director, Sustainable Communities Group
• Email: jesser(at)pembina.org
  Phone: 403-269-3344 Ext. 110